Court Sentences Reckless Biker To Substantial Jail Term

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Court Sentences Reckless Biker To Substantial Jail Term

A man who drove his motorcycle at speeds well over 100 mph through the park while attempting to elude arrest has been found guilty of reckless driving and been sentenced to six months in jail. Last September, rangers attempted to stop the operator of a motorcycle who was speeding on the Foothills Parkway spur in the early hours of the morning. Instead, the driver – Nathan O’Quinn, 21, of Clintwood, Virginia – accelerated away on his Suzuki 600 motorcycle, despite having a female passenger on the back of the bike. During the pursuit, O’Quinn reached speeds up to 114 mph. crossed double-yellow lines, passed on curves and nearly struck another vehicle head-on. “We have been seeing an increase in the number of individuals who are fleeing to elude arrest over the last few years,” said Bill Wright, the park’s chief ranger. “This type of behavior presents enormous risks, especially in the park with its narrow, curving roads and heavy traffic. There seems to be a growing perception that fleeing into or through the national park will allow the offender to escape. However, due to the limited number of exits from the park, those individuals are nearly always caught. Their actions prior to being stopped seriously jeopardize the safety and well-being of unsuspecting visitors and fellow motorists they encounter, and place the eluder in great risk of injury or death.”